Compare towns
Randolph vs Thornton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Randolph | Thornton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
2,799 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Thornton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 70 in VT | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Thornton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.